Railway power transmission.



A. S. PARSONS. RAILWAY POWER TRANSMISSION. APPLICATION IILED NOV. so, 1909.

970,543. Patented Sept.20.1910.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT S. PARSONS, 0F BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA.

RAILWAY POWER TRANSMISSION.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT S. PARSONS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Berkeley, in the county of Alameda and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Railway Power Transmission, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to means for obtaining power from a vehicle axle, and the principal object of the same is to provide a flexible connection between the axle and the power shaft so that the movements of the axle incidental to turning curves will not afiect the connection between the axle and the power shaft.

In carrying out the object of the invention generally stated above it will be understood, of course, that the essential features of the same are necessarily susceptible of changes in details and structural arrangements, one preferred and practical embodiment of which is shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a fragmentary view in side elevation of a railroad car showing the present invention applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the improved power transmission device. Fig. 3 is a view in side elevation of one of the pulleys used in connection with the invention. Fig. 4t is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 4l, Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a detail view of one of the bearing rings of the pulley shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

Referring to said drawings by numerals, wherein the improved transmission device has been shown in connection with a railroad car, 1 designates the car platform, 2 one of the trucks thereof in which the axle 3 is journaled, said axle being provided with usual wheels 4. A sleeve 5 is fast on the axle 3, said sleeve being centrally located and provided with an annular hub (i. A bearing ring 7 provided with inwardly projecting, oppositely disposed pivot pins 8, and outwardly projecting oppositely disposed pivot pins 9, surrounds said hub 6 with the pin 8 in pivotal engagement therewith, said ring being spaced from said hub by the collars 10 that are mounted on pins 8 and which are obviously curved to conform to the contour of the outer surface of hub 6 and the inner surface of ring 7. A pulley 11 surrounds said ring 7 and also the sleeve 5, said pulley being in pivotal en- Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed November 30, 1909.

Patented Sept. 20, .1910.

Serial No. 530,595.

gagement with the pins 9 of ring 7, and being spaced from said ring by the collars 12, which are curved to conform to the outer surface of ring 7 and the inner surface of pulley 11. Externally the pulley is provided with two annular rows of sprocket teeth 13-14, one row being adjacent each end thereof.

Intermediate its length, the bottom of platform 1 is provided with a pair of spaced apart hanger bearings 15-16 which support a power shaft 17 upon which a pulley 18 is mounted in precisely the same manner as that described in connection with the pulley 11 of axle 2. Said pulley 18 is provided with external sprocket teeth 19-2(). The teeth of pulley 18 are connected with the teeth of pulley 11 by the sprocket chains 21-22.

From the foregoin r description it will be readily understood t lat through the manner of pivotally connecting the hubs and bearing rings, and also pivotally connecting the bearing rings with the pulleys, said pulleys have a universal connection with their axle and shaft so that the pulleys are at all times held in alinement notwithstanding the position the axle 3 assumes incidental to rounding curves or swaying incidental to rapid traveling of the car. As will be obvious the pulleys 1118, owing to the broad space between their sprocket teeth, are adaptable for belted engagement with motors or the like so that their rotary power may be readily transmitted.

In connection with the foregoing prominent features of the invention it is contemplated employing means for retaining a tension on the sprocket chains 21-22, said means comprislng grooved pulleys 23 the shaft 24: of which projects beyond the ends of the pulleys and has spring connections 25 with the bottom of the car platform 1. Said springs are of the contractible type and hold their pulleys in contact with the bottom surface of the lower flights of the chains 2122 and thereby automatically regulate the tension thereof as is indicated in Fig. 1.

What I claim as my invention is 1. In a device of the character described, a vehicle, a power shaft therefor, a drum shaped pulley having sprocket teeth on its periphery adjacent to each end thereof, said pulley being universally mounted on and driven by said shaft, an axle mounted in a pivot support and spaced apart from said power shaft, a drum shaped pulley having sprocket teeth on its periphery adjacent to the ends, said pulley being universally mounted on and driving said axle, and sprocket chains connecting said pulleys.

2. A device of the character described comprising a vehicle, a power shaft therefor, a pulley with sprocket teeth universally mounted on and driven by said shaft,

10 a swinging axle carried by said vehicle, a

pulley universally mounted on and driving said axle, sprocket chains connecting said pulleys, and means carried by said vehicle for maintaining a tension on said chains.

In testimony whereof I affix my-signature 15 in presence of two witnesses.

ALBERT S. PARSONS. Vitnesses:

F. P. SOHROEDER, H. C. SOHROEDER. 

